Romney Running Hard to Blunt Santorum Momentum in New Hampshire

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Romney Showing Financial Muscle for Next Round,” provides a stark contrast between the Romney and Santorum campaigns. Romney is trying to rally the establishment behind him, rolling out an endorsement by once-bitter rival John McCain and appearing in New Hampshire with former Governor John Sununu. Santorum took a slow propeller plane from Iowa to get to the granite state, missing prime news coverage in the process.

As a long-time political affcionado, it’s hard to get excited by the Romney campaign. It is the typical pre-packaged merchandise that screams business as usual, while the Santorum campaign still exudes a certain sincerity of purpose and surprise.

I don’t agree with the conservative premise; government can do a lot of good things and is necessary for large-scale action in many cases. Just cutting programs out of a nostalgia for the past avoids the fact that things really weren’t so good back then; our civilization has progressed with increased compassion for the vulnerable and needy among us. Sure some programs need to be reformed, but that doesn’t mean you “throw out the baby with the bath water.”

Still, of all the Republican candidates, if I had to choose one, Santorum would be it. He lacks any of the fatal flaws the others one possess and can be trusted to work with Democrats when necessary for the good of the country.